Soak, Sip, And Snack Away In This Newly Opened European-Inspired Bathhouse
Enter the zen zone
By Astrid Taemets | 8th February 2023Forget a dip in sparkling sea by Byron Bay’s lighthouse, a poolside cocktail in Cabarita’s famous Halcyon House, or a five-star meal at Rae’s on Wategos – there’s a new reason to travel south, and it encompasses all the things you love and more.
Set in the heart of the ‘biggest little town in Australia’ is a Euro social experience brought to the people by Brendan Lawless, and it is nothing short of a solid ten. Built upon the sun-baked bricks of a 1920s bank, The Banya – which literally translates to ‘bathhouse’ in Russian – is a total mood that invites you to eat, drink, relax, and reconnect.
Celebrating the wonderful bathing culture of Northern Europe, this modern take on tradition features a lap pool, woodfired sauna, steam room, five massage treatment rooms, two hot mineral pools, and a cold plunge, plus a rooftop sundeck, bar and dining facilities. In other words, everything you need to lean into a full blown day of unwinding.
From its hexagon tiling, terrazzo, marble, and coffered ceilings, plush leather seating, lush foliage, and raw brick work, The Banya is the perfect mix of contemporary fun and traditional wonder, where lofty windows and high ceilings have been lovingly restored, blending old and new to create a space that’s equal parts hard to leave and so ‘gramworthy you’ll have to – ‘cause you’ll have used all your battery on capturing every single angle of this Mullumbimby masterpiece.
Post zen, order a tipple and feed from the on-site bar and dining venue, which is focused on the casual refinement of small share plates and good old staples. From the dining room, you can order Rock Oysters on ice, Ballina King Prawns with garlic butter brioche, cos, and pickle crisps, or the Banya bowl, while the more casual toasties, smoothies, and health shots can be ordered for takeaway or enjoyed on the deck. As for the drinks, you’ll fix six cocktails appropriately named to suit your bathhouse journey alongside a curated list of fizzy, white, orange, rose, and red wines.
So, the next time you feel like hitting the road in pursuit of a good time just remember – all roads lead to The Banya.
